Operating device for an electrical appliance

Abstract

In an embodiment of the invention it is possible to create an operating unit ( 11 ) with a rotary toggle ( 14 ), which has an integrated bearing device ( 15 ) with which the operating unit ( 11 ) can be magnetically fixed to a cover ( 12 ). The operating unit ( 11 ) has a control means ( 23 ) with a microprocessor for evaluating magnetic signalling means ( 19 ), which detect a rotation of the rotary toggle ( 14 ) relative to the bearing device ( 15 ). Through a first transformer ( 26 ) in the operating unit ( 11 ) and a second transformer ( 29 ) on the underside of the cover ( 12 ), it is possible to have both a signal transmission and a power transmission between the operating unit ( 11 ) and the electrical appliance.

1. An operating device for an electrical appliance, wherein:
 the operating device has an operating unit forming a part of the operating device,  
 said operating unit has a rotary device for the rotary operation of the electrical appliance with position change,  
 the electrical appliance has a cover and said operating unit can be fixed to the cover,  
 signalling means are provided for generating signals as a function of a position change or a position of said rotary device,  
 said operating unit has control means for processing signals for the purpose of influencing the electrical appliance,  
 said signalling means are exclusively contained in said operating unit,  
 said control means are connected to said signalling means,  
 said operating unit has a power supply for supplying power to said operating unit and said control means,  
 said operating device has a signal transmission from said signalling means to said electrical appliance,  
 said signal transmission takes place in contact-free manner,  
 said operating unit has a bearing device for said rotary device,  
 said rotary device is mounted in rotatable manner on said bearing device, and  
 said bearing device is fixable in substantially immovable manner to the cover and is also removable.  
 
   
   
     2. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said signalling means have at least one signalling magnet and at least one magnetic field sensor. 
   
   
     3. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said signalling means generate different electrical signals in different positions of said rotary device. 
   
   
     4. The operating device according to  claim 3 , wherein said signalling means comprise a potentiometer for modifying the magnitude of said electrical signals. 
   
   
     5. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said bearing device is fixable to the cover by a magnetic holding power, which is produced by magnetic holding means located at said cover and at said bearing device. 
   
   
     6. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said control means are located on said bearing device. 
   
   
     7. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said power supply is located on said bearing device. 
   
   
     8. The operating device according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one signalling magnet is located on said rotary device and said at least one magnetic field sensor is located on said bearing device. 
   
   
     9. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said control means have a signal processing means in order to convert signals of said signalling means into switching signals for operating the electrical appliance. 
   
   
     10. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises a power transmission from the electrical appliance to said operating unit. 
   
   
     11. The operating device according to  claim 10 , wherein said power transmission takes place in contact-free manner through said cover in a transformer manner. 
   
   
     12. The operating device according to  claim 10 , wherein said power transmission is constructed for signal transmission from said operating unit to said operating device or to the electrical appliance. 
   
   
     13. The operating device according to  claim 12 , wherein said power transmission is constructed for clocking or time-displaced transmission of power or signals. 
   
   
     14. The operating device according to  claim 13 , wherein said signal transmission is bi-directional. 
   
   
     15. The operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said operating unit comprises electrical display means connected to said power supply and to said control means. 
   
   
     16. The operating device according to  claim 15 , wherein said display means are placed on said bearing device and are fixed in position during rotary operation of said rotary device. 
   
   
     17. An operating device for an electrical appliance,
 wherein the operating device has an operating unit that forms a part of the operating device, said operating unit comprising: 
 a rotary device for the rotary operation of the electrical appliance with position change;  
 control means for processing signals for the purpose of influencing the electrical appliance;  
 signalling means for generating signals as a function of a position change or a position of said rotary device, wherein said signalling means are exclusively contained in said operating unit and wherein said control means are connected to said signalling means; and  
 a power supply for supplying power to said operating unit and said control means,  
 
 wherein the electrical appliance has a cover and said operating unit can be fixed to the cover, and  
 wherein said operating device has a signal transmission from said signalling means to the electrical appliance, said signal transmission taking place in a contact-free manner.  
 
   
   
     18. The operating device according to  claim 17 , wherein said operating unit has a bearing device for said rotary device, said rotary device being mounted in rotatable manner on said bearing device, and said bearing device being removably fixable in substantially immovable manner to said cover.